Magneto-resistive stripe element having a thin film conductor covered by a conductive capping layer

A magneto-resistive stripe element comprising:

• a magnetically active body portion;
• and
• an electrical conductor structure arranged proximate the magnetically active body portion, the electrical conductor structure having an alpha-Ta bi-layer film and an electrically conductive titanium capping layer, wherein the alpha-Ta bi-layer film includes a chromium base layer and a tantalum body layer, wherein the electrically conductive titanium capping layer caps the alpha-Ta bi-layer film such that the tantalum body layer is disposed between the chromium base layer and the electrically conductive titanium capping layer and is in direct contact with the chromium base layer and the electrically conductive titanium capping layer.

A magneto-resistive stripe element comprising:

• a magnetically active body portion;
• and
• an electrical conductor structure arranged proximate the magnetically active body portion, the electrical conductor structure having an alpha-Ta bi-layer film and an electrically conductive tungsten capping layer, wherein the alpha-Ta bi-layer film includes a chromium base layer and a tantalum body layer, wherein the electrically conductive tungsten capping layer caps the alpha-Ta bi-layer film such that the tantalum body layer is disposed between the chromium base layer and the electrically conductive tungsten capping layer and is in direct contact with the chromium base layer and the electrically conductive tungsten capping layer.

A magnetic head for reading data from a magnetic storage medium, the head comprising:

• a magneto-resistive stripe element having a magnetically active body portion and electrical conductor structure arranged proximate the magnetically active body portion, wherein the electrical conductor structure includes an alpha-Ta bi-layer film and an electrically conductive chromium capping layer, wherein the alpha-Ta bi-layer film includes a chromium base layer and a tantalum body layer, wherein the electrically conductive chromium capping layer caps the alpha-Ta bi-layer film such that the tantalum body layer is disposed between the chromium base layer and the electrically conductive chromium capping layer and is in direct contact with the chromium base layer and the electrically conductive chromium capping layer.

A magneto-resistive stripe element comprising:

• a magnetically active body portion;
• and
• an electrical conductor structure arranged proximate the magnetically active body portion, the electrical conductor structure having an alpha-Ta bi-layer film body capped by an electrically conductive chromium capping layer such that the tantalum body layer is disposed between the chromium base layer and the electrically conductive chromium capping layer and is in direct contact with the chromium base layer and the electrically conductive chromium capping layer, wherein the electrically conductive chromium capping layer has a lower compressive stress than the alpha-Ta bi-layer film body such that the electrical conductor structure has a lower compressive stress than the compressive stress of the alpha-Ta bi-layer film body.

A magnetic head comprising:

• a magneto-resistive stripe element having a magnetically active body portion and an electrical conductor structure arranged proximate the magnetically active body portion, the electrical conductor structure having an alpha-Ta bi-layer film and an electrically conductive chromium capping layer, wherein the alpha-Ta bi-layer film includes a chromium base layer and a tantalum body layer, wherein the electrically conductive chromium capping layer caps the alpha-Ta bi-layer film such that the tantalum body layer is disposed between the chromium base layer and the electrically conductive chromium capping layer and is in direct contact with the chromium base layer and the electrically conductive chromium capping layer.